Session times

We run on - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
From 9.00 - 12.00
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons 12.25 - 3.25
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays 9.00 - 3.25
We provide Care and Education for children between the ages of 3 and 5, term time only.
We are members of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and are also a registered charity.

The Pre-school's timetable and routines

Abbotsham and Alwington Pre-school believes that care and education are equally important in the experience which we offer children. The routines and activities that make up the pre-school's session/day are provided in ways that:

help each child to feel that she/he isa valued member of the pre-school;

ensure the safety of each child;

help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group; and

provide children with opportunities to learn and help them to value learning.

The session

The pre-school organises its sessions so that the children can choose from - and work at - a range of activities and, in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion. The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.

Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity - and are encouraged - to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities, as well as those provided in the indoor playroom.

Starting at Abbotsham and Alwington Pre-school

Children may start Pre-school from the age of three, funding will be available from the term after they are three. Funding is available for up to 15 hours per week.

Fees - £4.00 per hour

The first days

We want your child to feel happy and safe at the pre-school. To make sure that this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle into the pre-school. The pre-school has a policy about helping children to settle into the pre-school. (See Settling in Policy)

Clothing

The pre-school provides protective clothing for the children when they play with messy activities.

The pre-school encourages children to gain the skills which help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off - and putting on - outdoor clothes. Clothing which is easy for them to manage will help them to do this.

The Education provided by Abbotsham and Alwington Pre-school

Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by Abbotsham and Alwington Pre-school helps children to continue to do this by providing all of the children with interesting activities that are right for their age and stage of development.

For children between the ages of 3 and 5 years, the pre-school use the Early Years Foundation Stage Document

There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early years settings. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These three areas, the prime areas, are:

communication and language;

physical development; and

personal, social and emotional development.

Providers must also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:

literacy;

mathematics;

understanding the world; and

expressive arts and design.

Educational programmes involve activities and experiences for children, as follows.

•
Personal, social and emotional development
involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

•
Communication and language development
involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

•
Physical development
involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

•
Literacy development
involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.

•
Mathematics
involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.

•
Understanding the world
involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

•
Expressive arts and design
involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

Snacks and meals

The pre-school make snacks a social time at which children eat together in their key worker groups. We provide a drink of milk or water, 3 types of fruit/veg and crackers/breadsticks etc.

Do tell us about your child's dietary needs and we will make sure that these are met. If your child is staying for the day you will need to provide them with their own lunch and a drink.

How parents take part in the pre-school

As a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, Abbotsham and Alwington Pre-school recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff see themselves as co-workers with you in providing care and education for your child. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the pre-school a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents, such as:

exchanging knowledge about their children's needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff;

helping at sessions of the pre-school;

sharing their own special interests with the children;

helping to provide, make and look after the equipment and materials used in the children's play activities;

being part of the management of the pre-school;

taking part in events and informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by the pre-school;

joining in community activities in which the pre-school takes part; and

building friendships with other parents in the pre-school.

The parents rota

Helping at the session enables you to see what the day-to-day life of the pre-school is like and to join in helping the children to get the best out of their activities. It is also a good opportunity to talk to your Child’s key person.

The Parent rota help calendar is on the information table for you to add your name on the day(s) most convenient to you.

No-Smoking policy

Parents/ Carers are not permitted to smoke in a room, or outside play area, when children are present or about to be present

Key persons

The pre-school has a key worker system. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom she is particularly responsible. Your child's key worker will be the person who works with you to make sure that what the pre-school provides is right for your child's particular needs and interests. When your child first starts at the pre-school, she will help your child to settle and throughout your child's time at the pre-school, she will help your child to benefit from the pre-school's activities.

Records of achievement

The pre-school keeps a record of achievement for each child. Staff and parents working together on their children's records of achievement is one of the ways in which Pre-school and parents work in partnership. Your child's record of achievement helps us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for her/his well-being and to make progress.

Your child's key worker will work with you to keep this record. To do this you and she/he will collect information about your child's needs, activities, interests and achievements. This information will enable the key person to identify your child's stage of progress.

The management of Pre-school

A parent management committee - whose members are elected by the parents of the children who attend the pre-school - manages the pre-school. The elections take place at the pre-school's Annual General Meeting which is held each year. The committee is responsible for:

managing the pre-school's finances;

employing and managing the staff;

making sure that the pre-school has - and works to - policies which help it to provide a high quality service; and

making sure that the pre-school works in partnership with the children's parents.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Annual General Meeting is open to the parents of all of the children who attend the pre-school. It is their forum for looking back over the previous year's activities and shaping the coming year's activities. The AGM is normally held in October.

Special needs

As part of the pre-school's policy to make sure that its provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special needs which a child may have.

The pre-school works to the requirements of the 2002 Education Act and The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2015). The pre-school's Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator is Janine Shambrook.

Policies

Copies of the pre-school's policies are available upon request. There is also a copy of the Policies on our website.

The pre-school's policies help us to make sure that the service provided by the pre-school is a high quality one and that being a member of the pre-school is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for each child and her/his parents.

The staff and parents of the pre-school work together to adopt the policies and they all have the opportunity to take part in the annual review of the policies. This review helps us to make sure that the policies are enabling the pre-school to provide a quality service for its members and the local community.

Abbotsham and Alwington Pre-school hopes that you and your child enjoy being members of the Pre-school and that you both find taking part in our activities interesting and stimulating. The staff are always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions.

If you wish to cantact me by email
abbotshampreschool@outlook.com, I check my emails most days so will endeavour to get back to you asap. My mobile number is 07581550714 and the Pre-school number is below and is on during opening hours only.

(The word
parents
is used to refer to mothers, fathers, legal guardians and primary carers of the children within our care.)